12 PREFACE. 



strongest reasons to show that, wherever the 

 peach-tree yields perfect fruit, there will the 

 grape-vine also flourish. The result, then, of the 

 author's inquiries was, that there are few countries 

 where the vine will thrive better than here ; and 

 the conviction was so powerful with him that he 

 returned to France and brought over several thou- 

 sand three-year-old plants, which he set in the vi- 

 cinity of New York, and many of which bore fruit 

 the same year they were imported. 



On considering the immense quantities of 

 spirituous liquors that are consumed in America, 

 and especially on thinking of their dreadful results 

 upon the health, should not the philanthropist 

 wish for and hasten the importation of the vine ? 



Indeed, interest, that great mover of the ac- 

 tions of mankind, ought to urge the American 

 citizen to reap the benefits of a plant for the prod- 

 ucts of which he pays considerable sums to for- 

 eigners. 



Will it be believed that two million gallons 

 of spirituous liquors are yearly imported into 

 New York ? Yet, if vineyards flourished in the 



